The AIDS Workcrew, a Dartmouth AIDS awareness organization that is part of the Tucker Foundation, will hold a commemorative event this Sunday as part of the Global Health Council's 2006 International AIDS Candlelight Memorial.
The ceremony will take place outside Collis and include a candle lighting, speakers, and a performance by the Rockapellas, and is designed to coincide with similar events taking place on Sunday in countries throughout the world, despite organizers' fears that Green Key's party atmosphere will reduce the turnout.
Jordan Nahas-Vigon '08, the AIDS Workcrew co-chair, characterized the primary purposes of the event as demonstrating support and raising awareness.
"I think that this is more to show people in the Upper Valley who have been affected that we are here and that we support them," she said. "I think the important thing is that even if you aren't infected you can still be affected by the disease."
Stuart Lord, dean of the Tucker Foundation, will address the group, as well as an HIV-positive man from the Upper Valley who will share his story. The AIDS Workcrew is also paying for an AIDS awareness worker to fly in from Los Angeles to speak about raising consciousness about the problems associated with HIV and AIDS.
Nahas-Vigon voiced concerns about the potential drawbacks of holding such an event on one of Dartmouth's biggest party weekends.
"It's hard enough getting people to come out for certain things, but I definitely think this will affect it," Nahas-Vigon said.
Another one of the event's organizers, Larkin Elderon '09, also mentioned the issue of having a memorial over Green Key.
"Initially we thought it wouldn't work out, but it's at the end of [the weekend]." she said. "It is true that the focus of the weekend is pretty different from this."
The AIDS Workcrew has publicized the event by putting up flyers at local area business and expects a significant Upper Valley community presence.
While the organizers could not offer an attendance estimate, they said they bought 100 candles in preparation for the event and they expect the event to last about an hour and a half. In the case of inclement weather, the memorial will be held inside Collis.
